By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 28: A Sarawak delegation led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian is drawing inspiration from successful urban regeneration projects in Manchester, United Kingdom, as the State prepares to scale up its affordable housing supply under the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030).
During the working visit, Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, emphasised the need for Sarawak to plan ahead for the growing demand for public housing and public transportation as part of its broader nation-building efforts and commitment to the Sarawak Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which focuses on economic prosperity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability.
“We need to plan ahead for the much-needed public housing and public transportation as part of nation building in Sarawak, as we make progress towards Sarawak PCDS 2030’s economic prosperity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability goals,” Dr Sim said in a Facebook post.
According to Dr Sim, under the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan, the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Sarawak is proposing to raise the number of affordable housing units from the current 3,000 to 20,000 units.
“Such an aim will require the teamwork of various government agencies, as well as public-private partnerships,” he added.
Apart from deputy ministers and officials from the Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government (MPHLG) Sarawak, the delegation also included representatives from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Sarawak, Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA), Land and Survey Department Sarawak, Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) Sarawak, and the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda).
As part of the working visit, the Sarawak delegation visited several key urban redevelopment sites in Manchester.
The delegation visited the Urban Regeneration of New Islington in Ancoats, Manchester, where a former industrial site was transformed into affordable council housing, green spaces, and improved connectivity through canals and public transport, creating a vibrant and sustainable community.
They were also briefed on the Hulme Crescents Redevelopment Project, which Dr Sim described as another prime example of urban renewal, integrating public affordable housing within a planned, sustainable community framework.
In addition, the delegation toured Heaton Park in Manchester, one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, spanning approximately 600 acres. — DayakDaily
